Samuel smith martin



lNVENTOH Patented Fab. 2|, I899. s. s. MARTIN. CAP 0R COVER FOR CANS.

(Apphcaflon flled Buy 82 189'! pm mam WITNESSES 42% 1H: NORRIS PErERs ca, Punmuma. WASNINGTON, n. c.

UNITED; STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL SMITH MARTIN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAP OR COVER FOR CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 619,976, dated February 21, 1899.

Application filed May 22,1897. Serial No. 637,804. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SAMUEL SMITH MARTIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at New York, (Brooklyn,) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Caps or Covers for Cans, of which the following is a specification, such as will enable those skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The object is to provide an improved detachable cap or cover for cans and similar vessels which is also adapted to serve as a can-opener; and with this and other objects in view the invention consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate parts of my improvement are designated by the same numerals of reference in each of the views, and in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved cap or cover for cans; Fig. 2, a side View thereof; Fig. 3, a transverse vertical section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a section at right angles thereto on the line 4: 4 of Fig. 1.

My improvement is particularly adapted for use in connection with condensed-milk cans, and my improved cap or cover is provided with a discharge-spout and also with means for opening the can, and in practice'I provide a cap or cover for cans which comprises an annular base 5, which is adapted to inclose the neck or end of the can, and said base 5 is provided with an upwardly-directed top portion 6, which is less in diameter than the base 5 and connected therewith by an annular flange or plate 7, below which is placed a rubber packing-ring 8.

The top portion 6 is preferably convex in form and the body thereof annular or cylindrical, as shown at 9, and said body portion 9 is provided at one side with a spout 10, which is provided with a cover 11, having a handle which is pivoted to the top 6 at 13, and the cover 11 is kept closed by a spring 14, which is connected with the pivotal support 13 and which bears on the under side of the handle and on the top 6, and by depressing the outer end of the handle the cover 11 of'the spout 10 may be opened, as will be readily understood, and said cover is automatically closed when the pressure is removed from the outer end of the handle.

The base 5 is preferably corrugated, as shown, for the purpose of giving strength thereto and also to provide means whereby the device may be securely grasped in the operation thereof, as hereinafter described.

The annular or cylindrical body portion 9 of the top 6 of my improved can-cover is pro vided with a depending cutting blade 15, which is secured to one side thereof, preferably opposite the spout 10, and which projects downwardlyalmost to the bottom of the annular base 5, and this cutter-blade is preferably triangular in form, the point thereof be ing directed downwardly, and the operation is substantially as follows:

As hereinbefore described, my improvement is particularly designed for use in connection with milk-cans and to cut out the heads thereof, and in this operation the annular base 5 is passed downwardly over the end of can, and by applying pressure to the cap or cover and turning the same the cutter-plate 15 is forced downwardly through the head of the can and passes around the same, and said head is cut out. The cap or cover may then be removed and the cut-out head detached therefrom, and said cap or cover may then be placed upon the can and used for the purpose of discharging the contents thereof through the spout 10.

The annular base 5 is designed to closely fit the end of the can, and said base may or or may not be corrugated, as shown and described.

This device is simple in construction and operation and perfectly adapted to accomplish the result for which it is intended, and it will be apparent that changes in and modifications of the construction described may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention or sacrificing to its advantages.

Having fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- A cap or cover for cans, comprising a cylindrical closed top portion and an annular base of greater diameter than the top portion, said provided with a projecting handle, substantop portion and base being connected byan antiallyas shown and described. nular flange or plate formed integrally there- Signed at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings with, and said cylindrical top portion being and State of New York, this 20th day of April, 5 provided at one side thereof with a cutter- A. D. 1897.

blade which is secured to the inner side thereof and projected downwardly within the an- SAML' SMITH MARTIN nular base, and said top portion being also Witnesses: provided at one side thereof with a discharge- FRANK L. MARTIN,

1o spout having a hinged spring-operated cover J. WV. KEAZE. 

